The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-02-20

tho salary Of the minister could not be increased
in q general appropriation bill, as tho statutes
provide for salary of $4,000 per annum.
Il hope the gentleman will withdraw his
point of order" said the chairman of the foreign
affairs committee, as he turned his back to the
Speaker and addressed himself to Mr. Burmese
It was that remark and that action which called
forth the surprised comment from the honorable
gentleman from across the border
why, the point of order cannot be with
drawn he added in tone of amazement as he
listened to Mr. Belmont's request. When q
question of that kind is raised With us there is
nothing to do but TO await the decision of the
Speaker If, as the gentleman states, the rules
are we'll defined on that point, there can be no
question, I should think, as to the decision of
the Chair. Discussion is clearly not in order.
The attention OF the Speaker has been called to
the rules as well as to the law which it is pro-
posed to amend, and fail to see why time
should be wasted in useless discussion or APP
pesls."
Then MIR. Bunting glanced about the House.
Ten or twelve members stood in front of the
Speakers s'throne" busly engaged in discussing
the dinner which they were to tender to the
newspaper correspondents that evening. Twenty
five more were greatly interested in reading
their newspapers; some were nodding over their
desks; several were smoking, and were evidently
enjoying themselves, with their feet elevated to
the favorite American position-on level with
their heads. Others were telling stories; more
were writing letters; some were ciappine their
slightest attention to the discussion-in fact Mr..
Burnes WAS the only one who seemed to be in
any way interested in the discussion, and he was
very busy looking up the rules and presidents
to aid him In sustaining his point Of order. Even
Mr.. Springer, the Speaker pro tenn, seemed
to have NO particular desire to hear what was
said.
"In the Canadian House of Commons con-
tinued the visitor 'the member speaking must
address himself to the Speaker, and he must
confine himself to the subject under discussion.
l find it is very different here Scarcely a word
uttered can be heard, and Mr.. Belmont, there
seems to be addressing himself to the galleries
in the rear of the hall, rather than to the pre-
siding officer. Our hall is very different Mem
bers cannot attend to their correspondence
while debate is proceeding, because of the alb
sence of desks. They, too, have different
mode of speaking. Mr.. Burnes is more like q
Canadian member of Parliament in his mode OF
speech than anyone whom have yet heard Z
fnd too, that your method of legislation is very
different from ours. We pay much more atten-
| ton to committee work than you do here Some
| of our House committees are very large. The
committee on railroads, for instance, has one
| hundred and five members and this commit.
tee, as we'll as several Others meets every morn.
| ing
| Mr. Bunting spoke very highly Of many of tho
| members to whom he had been introduced, but
he confessed his surprise at the ignorance con.
| corning Canada and the Canadians which he
found to exist with nearly ali of them. In spite
Of the talk of retaliatory legislation. coast de-
lenses and navies. now SO common in Washing
ton, he does not think there will be a rupture OF
the friendly relations between the United
! States and Canada, but he thinks the differ
ences will soon be settled without recourse to
embargoes inhiDitions, bloodshed or powder.
| smoke.